Lamoureux: I’m honored for this opportunityGov.-elect Asa Hutchinson on Nov. 5 announced he would hire Michael Lamoureux of Russellville as chief of staff. “I am honored that he would give me this opportunity,” Lamoureux said. “I am thankful to the voters that allowed me to serve in the House and Senate over the previous 12 years.” Lamoureux, a Republican, served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2002-08 and as House Minority Leader from 2005-06. In 2009, he was elected to ...

Heavy rains may hike winter cattle costs HARRISON (AP) — Agriculture officials say heavy rains that have fallen this year may have driven up production costs for Arkansas cattle farmers this winter. The National Agricultural Statistics Service says 52 percent of Arkansas' pastures are in good or excellent condition. Heavy rains throughout the year largely benefited cattle farmers with plentiful hay. But excessive rains in north-central Arkansas diminished the crop's nutrient content ...

Group: Obama order may benefit 14,000 in Arkansas President Barack Obama's executive action aimed at sparing nearly 5 million people in the U.S. from being deported, which one group estimated could affect at least 14,000 immigrants living illegally in Arkansas, drew criticism from state politicians but praise from human rights activists. The president's executive order has been decried by Republicans as a presidential overstep. Some important things to know about it: WHO'S AFFECTED The immigr...

Where gay marriage cases go from here LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Challenges to the state's ban on gay marriage are being fought in both federal and state courtrooms in Arkansas, but such unions could come to the state by other means. No decisions were issued after the state Supreme Court and U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker heard arguments in separate but similar lawsuits Thursday. If rulings are delayed, experts said Friday, court cases from other states would directly impact Arkansas....

Diabetes, it's heart-feltLITTLE ROCK — More than 248,000 Arkansans - or about 9.6 percent of the state’s population - have diabetes, and it is estimated that 124,000 people with diabetes do not even know they have the disease. If left undiagnosed or untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke. This November, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), the Central Arkansas chapter of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) an...

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Arkansas Department of HealthThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Trooper recruits complete accelerated trainingLITTLE ROCK — Twenty-four Arkansas State Police Trooper Recruits graduated during ceremonies at the Arkansas State Capitol. The recruit candidates were assembled from a group of applicants already commissioned as local law enforcement officers employed at police and sheriff’s departments across the state. Average cumulative service among each of the recruits totaled seven years. The class initially reported for duty on Sept. 7 this year and ac...

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Arkansas State PoliceThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

39th Annual Great American SmokeoutLITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program (TPCP) encourages all smokers to stop smoking or pledge to quit in observance of the American Cancer Society’s 39th Annual Great American Smokeout (GASO). Smoking causes immediate damage to your health. If you are a smoker, you are at an increased risk for cancer, heart attack, lung disease, and early death. “Tobacco is the single most preventable cause ...

Dermott mayoral candidate arrested DERMOTT (AP) — A candidate in the runoff for mayor in Dermott was arrested after prosecutors say she falsely signed a pledge saying she had not been previously convicted of a felony. KATV-TV reported prosecutors say Mary Francis Barnes — under the name Mary Francis Johnson — was convicted in Washington state in 1990 of possession with intent to deliver. Her name also appears as Mary Thomas Barnes. A prosecutor says Barnes signed her political ...

Woman who impersonated singer returns to court ROGERS (AP) — A woman who admitted she impersonated singer Alison Krauss to swindle money from a 75-year-old Fayetteville man has been returned to Arkansas after being arrested in New Mexico. Peggy Sue Evers pleaded not guilty to a failure to appear charge in Washington County Circuit Court on Wednesday. Prosecutors say an arrest warrant was issued for Evers after she missed a court date. She was later arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ever...

Clinton Foundation reports jump in contributions =LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Contributions and grants to the tax-exempt foundation that former President Bill Clinton operates with his family grew nearly threefold between 2012 and 2013, backed by its merger with another of his charities, the establishment of an endowment and large donations from nine unspecified donors, tax records show. The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation released its tax documents to The Associated Press on Wednesday, ...

Gay marriage opponents rally at state Capitol LITTLE ROCK (AP) — About 200 opponents of gay marriage gathered outside of the Arkansas Capitol on Wednesday, asking the state Supreme Court not to overturn a 2004 ballot measure defining marriage as being between a man and a woman. Attorneys for the state and a group of gay couples are scheduled to appear Thursday before the high court, where justices will weigh whether to uphold a Pulaski County judge's May ruling against the ban. More than ...

Cotton: Order would hurt bipartisanship chancesLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Republican U.S. Sen.-elect Tom Cotton said Monday that the president's anticipated move to protect millions of immigrants living in the country illegally from deportation would be a setback for chances at bipartisan cooperation in Washington. The Arkansas congressman said he hoped President Barack Obama wouldn't follow through on his anticipated executive order, saying the midterm election should be seen as a message t...

Lawmakers begin filing bills for 2015 sessionLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas lawmakers moved to clarify new ethics rules contained in a constitutional amendment and to make a renewed attempt at writing court rules Monday as they began filing legislation for next year's session. The two pieces of legislation filed by late Monday were "shell bills" - meaning they didn't include specific proposals - but indicated two of the major issues facing lawmakers when they convene for the session o...

Sheriff: Arkansas felon sells gun to officerNEWPORT, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas authorities have arrested a felon who they say was selling guns on Facebook. KAIT-TV reports (http://bit.ly/1xg8Lan ) Jackson County deputies arrested the man on a firearms possession charge. Jackson County Sheriff's Cpl. Justin Collom says an undercover officer bought a 12-gauge shotgun from the man last week. He says the man had been released on bond for a separate firearms possession charge before he made the s...

Judge partially dissolves NLR consent decreeLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A judge has partially lifted a consent decree issued more than 30 years ago for North Little Rock. The decree resolved allegations by the federal justice department that the central Arkansas city regularly engaged in racial and gender discrimination in its hiring, recruiting, assigning and promoting practices, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/1wSWZio ) reported. It was first issued in 1983 but was later mod...

Arkansas prosecutors rest in machete attack caseFORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) - Prosecutors have rested their case in the double capital-murder trial in Sebastian County involving a man who charged with killing two men with a machete. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/1vmDFhS) that prosecutors rested Tuesday in the murder trial of Gregory Aaron Kinsey. The 21-year-old Kinsey is charged with killing 39-year-old Brandon Prince and 32-year-old Nathan Young in Fort Smith in June 2013...

Pavement work means lane closures on US Highway 67LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - State construction officials say pavement work will require daytime lane closures this week on U.S. Highway 67 in Pulaski and Lonoke counties. The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department says the lane closures will be Thursday and Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., weather permitting. Traffic will be controlled using cones and warning signs. Crews will perform pavement testing on the northbound and so...

Hot Springs woman gets 30 years for child pornHOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) - A 34-year-old Hot Springs woman has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to child pornography, sexual assault and bestiality charges. Prosecutors said Amanda Desaray Hartle was sentenced Tuesday and will also be required to register as a sex offender. Hartle pleaded guilty to five counts of distributing, possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, one cou...